By Milcah Tanimu
Sampdoria midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, currently on loan from Inter Milan, has gained strong backing from both Juventus and Inter Milan after facing racist abuse during a Serie B match against Brescia.
The Incident and Response
The 20-year-old Nigerian was targeted by offensive “monkey” chants from the crowd after Sampdoria scored. Akinsanmiro responded with an ironic gesture, which sparked criticism from Brescia’s coach, Pierpaolo Bisoli, who accused him of inciting violence.
Sampdoria’s Reaction
To prevent further escalation, Sampdoria coach Leonardo Semplici substituted Akinsanmiro shortly after the incident.
Support from Juventus and Inter Milan
In response, both Juventus and Inter Milan expressed their solidarity with Akinsanmiro on social media. Inter Milan tweeted: “We are all brothers of the world,” while Juventus replied to Sampdoria’s support post with, “Never again. Juventus against racism.”
Defending Akinsanmiro’s Reaction
Akinsanmiro’s agent, Crescenzo Cecere, defended the player’s response, calling it a “provocative but beautiful” gesture. He stressed that racism must be fully condemned and highlighted that Akinsanmiro handled the situation with a smile.
Ongoing Fight Against Racism in Football
This incident underscores the ongoing issues with racism in football. The support from top clubs like Juventus and Inter Milan sends a strong message in the fight against discrimination in the sport.
